Dealing with a serious back injury

Most back injuries from auto accidents heal in a month or two with rest and anti-inflammatory drugs, and the patient can expect a full recovery. Unfortunately, some injuries lead to chronic pain and may require future surgery.

If you have suffered a back injury that was caused by the negligence of another in any type of accident, it’s important not to accept a settlement from the responsible insurance company until you know how the injury will affect you in the future. Otherwise, you may not receive enough compensation to meet your future needs.

Under our civil justice system, you only have one opportunity to recover the compensation you are due for damages such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Once you agree to a settlement with the insurance company, your case is over. You won’t be able to go back and obtain more money if your injury turns out to be more serious than you first thought.

Examples of back injuries that may require future surgery include:

Disk injuries, such as herniated disks that do not get better with time

Spinal cord injuries, which can result in weakness in the affected limbs, tingling, or full or partial paralysis

Compression fractures, which are tiny cracks that cause the vertebra to deform

A serious back or neck injury can result chronic pain that affects your ability to work and do the things you enjoy. For this reason it’s important to wait until you make a full recovery — or as full a recovery as possible — before you accept a settlement.

The law firm of Dolan Dobrinsky Rosenblum, LLP in Miami offers a free initial consultation to answer your questions and explain your rights if you or someone you love has suffered a neck or back injury in an accident.